instructverb
uk/ɪnˈstrʌkt/us/ɪnˈstrʌkt/instruct verb (ORDER)
C1 [ T + to infinitive ] to order or tell someone to do something, especially in a formal way:
The police have been instructed to patrol the building and surrounding area.
[ T ] UK to employ a lawyer to represent you in court
[ T ] When a judge instructs a jury, he or she tells it what the law means and how to use it.
More examples
- The prime minister's family have been instructed not to discuss his past life with the press.
- The minister was instructed to accept the advice of senior civil servants.
- Tourists are instructed not to travel to the region unless absolutely necessary.
- The government instructed MPs to vote in favour of the bill.
- He was instructed to report back to headquarters.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Giving orders & commands
- all-points bulletin
- boss
- bossyboots
- chain of command
- charge
- crack the whip idiom
- defy
- demand
- dun
- enjoin
- expect
- forget
- harry
- lay down the law idiom
- mandate
- ordain
- order sb around
- overbearing
- prescribed
- steamroller
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Taking legal action
Judges & juries
instruct verb (TEACH)
C2 [ T ] to teach someone how to do something:
He works in a sports centre instructing people in the use of the gym equipment.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Teaching in general
- brief
- CAL
- CLIL
- clue
- clue sb in
- drum
- homeschool
- hothousing
- instruction
- instructional
- popularize
- special educational needs
- teach
- teach sb a lesson idiom
- that'll teach sb idiom
- tutelage
- upskill
- upskilling
- wean
- wean sb on sth
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